UK Compensation Culture No Longer a Concern for Scouts? [7th May 2012]

Despite fears about health and safety and potential compensation claims, the Scout Association has decided to run their Bob-a-Job scheme this year for the first time in ten years. The scheme was scrapped a decade ago due to fears over the compensation culture, but a revamped version which takes health and safety laws into account will take place this week. 144,000 children will take part in supervised groups and will focus on larger tasks designed to improve the whole community. Adult participation will mean that children will not be working on their own - as they had done in the past. To facilitate this, the jobs will be done during weekends and in the evenings, rather than during the holidays. The money gained from the work will go to local charities, the Scout Association or to the local Scout groups. The scheme is sponsored by B&Q who will offer materials and advice.

The widow of a cyclist who was killed when he was struck by a lorry driver has received £200,000 as compensation, despite saying she only wanted an apology. Basil Clarke was knocked from his cycle in 2009 and suffered serious injuries. The lorry driver served just six months in prison for dangerous driving after pleading guilty. It was found that he had failed to change course or alter his speed at all prior to the accident. His widow agreed to take compensation, two weeks before a court hearing, as she did not want to relive the event in court. The solicitors Russell Jones and Walker say that is some cases it is best to settle out of court to prevent more heartache. They point out that the widow has worked with them to promote safe cycling via the UK National Cyclists organisation since the event.

A television cameraman and producer from Swindon is asking for £8,000 in unpaid wages and compensation for unfair dismissal after he lost his job on a Sikh television station. Jagjeet Rehnsi worked for Sangat Television which broadcasts 24 hours a day and is watched by up to 50,000 people across the UK and Europe. He claims that despite starting on a reasonable wage, it kept going down until he was working for less than minimum. He also claims he did not receive wage slips regularly. The television station have said that they were in financial difficulties and this was explained to staff. They say they emailed wage slips. The case is ongoing.

The families of Malaysian plantation workers who were killed by British armed forces in 1948 could secure a compensation payment after they take their case to the High Court this week. This is despite the families not wanting payment of any kind. It is hoped that a public inquiry into the killings can be carried out. The incident involved the burning of a Malaysian village after 24 inhabitants were shot. It has been described as one of the most controversial events of the post-second world war communist insurgency. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have stated that it would be very difficult to conduct an inquiry as almost all witnesses are now dead. The relatives of the victims say that an apology has never been received despite it being thought of as genuine mistake by the troops. The families have said that they do not want compensation, they simply need to know what happened.